It is mighty imprudent, as well as inhuman and uncivil, to affront any
body; and whoever takes the liberty to exercise his witty talent that
way, must not think much of it if he meets reprisals. Indeed, if all
those who are thus paid in their own coin would take it with the same
frankness the Fox did, the matter would not be much; but we are too apt,
when the jest comes to be turned home upon ourselves, to think that
insufferable in another, which we looked upon as pretty and facetious
when the humour was our own. The rule of doing as we would be done by,
so proper to be our model in every transaction of life, may more
particularly be of use in this respect: because people seldom or never
receive any advantage by these little ludicrous impositions; and yet, if
they were to ask themselves the question, would find that another's
using them in the same manner would be very displeasing.